Many rural and remote Indigenous communities are provided with emergency and disaster services by a range of volunteer services.

Volunteers are considered the backbone of local communities right across the State. The Department of Emergency Services, through its volunteers, has had the opportunity to develop positive partnerships and build an excellent reputation at the local level, particularly within rural and remote Indigenous communities.

The Department of Emergency Services is implementing a two-pronged approach to improving the quality of life for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders by focusing on both service delivery and employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians including:

Employment of ambulance field officers in targeted rural and remote Indigenous communities.

Implementation of First Responder Units in targeted rural and remote Indigenous communities.

Implementation of Joint Emergency Service Units in targeted rural and remote Indigenous communities.

Government Champion Strategy and Negotiation Table process for the community of Coen

Under Meeting Challenges, Making Choices, the Queensland Government’s response to Justice Fitzgerald’s Cape York Justice Study, Chief Executive Officers of State Government departments have been appointed as Government Champions for specific communities to represent the government acting in partnership with communities.

The Government Champion initiative seeks to take a whole-of-government and holistic, approach to opportunities and solutions within a participating community. The Government Champions pursue opportunities to ‘join-up’ the efforts and contributions of different State and Commonwealth Government departments, ATSIC, regional Indigenous organisations and community groups. By appointing Government Champions the Government aims to build a productive relationship with communities and ensure government commitments are met.

The Director-General of the Department of Emergency Services is the designated Government Champion for the Cape York community of Coen. A register of priorities has been developed for the Coen Community outlining the issue raised, action required and the current status of the issue. Several of the key issues raised have been progressed resulting in significant achievements for this Cape York community.

The Coen Negotiation Table process brought together a diversity of representatives from across Local, State and Commonwealth governments, and provided an opportunity for issues relating to the Coen community, to be addressed and solutions progressed.

Shared Participation Agreements were signed off by representatives of the Coen community, and Commonwealth, State, and Local governments at the Negotiation Table. These agreements outlined details of the community issue, the government response, and the community commitment.

Department of Emergency Services Director-General Michael Kinnane (pictured far left) and departmental staff travelled through the Cape in October 2004.

Indigenous Australian Service Delivery Enhancement Package

This package specifically aims to improve the delivery of emergency services to rural and remote Indigenous communities. Providing $2.1 million over four years, the package includes initiatives such as the employment of Ambulance Field Officers at Coen, Kowanyama and Horn Island, the provision of first aid training and emergency response equipment to rural and remote communities and outstations, and the commencement of a Joint Emergency Service Facility on Palm Island.

State Indigenous Australian Reference Group

The department’s State Indigenous Australian Reference Group is sponsored and chaired by the Director-General and comprises of 14 Indigenous Australian staff representing each region throughout the State, eight management representatives from all divisions within the department and five external representatives from Indigenous organisations and committees.

This group is an advisory body only and ensures a strong Indigenous influence in the development of policy, procedures and guidelines and in service delivery across DES.

Regional Indigenous Australian Reference Groups

The departmental Regional Indigenous Australian Reference Groups are sponsored by a Regional Planning and Coordination Team representative from each region. These groups are chaired by a State Indigenous Australian Reference Group member and are inclusive of non-Indigenous staff working with Indigenous communities.

These groups are also advisory bodies and ensure a strong Indigenous influence in the development of policy, procedures and guidelines and in service delivery across DES.

Publications

Strategic Plan for Indigenous Australians 2005-2008:

This Plan is the DES blueprint for improving safety and security of Aboriginal & Torres Straight Islander communities throughout Queensland and increasing the number of Aboriginal people and Torres Straight Islanders employed in the department.

This guide is intended to be of assistance to Community Councils, Local Governments, consultants and disaster management professionals, in undertaking or facilitating disaster risk management activities in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.

Because different readers have different needs, the guide has been produced in two parts. The first part is for those who only require an outline understanding of disaster risk management.

The second part is aimed at those who need more detailed knowledge to carry out the process or to oversee work being done by others.

This publication will be posted on this website in the near future.

BSS Diversity and Equity Plan – Towards 2008:

The Diversity and Equity Plan - Towards 2008 is about valuing all our employees, providing them with a challenging and rewarding work environment and allowing them to reach their full potential. It emphasises the importance of a positive workplace culture and a demonstrated commitment to diversity and equity at all levels.

The Plan also recognises the barriers that some members of society have faced in gaining employment and promotion in the workforce. This Plan aims to address these past inequities through detailing innovative and holistic strategies to progress employment outcomes for people from the four Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) target groups. The Plan has also been developed as a guiding framework that enables DES to meet its legislative requirements and whole-of-Government equity planning imperatives.

A further aim is to ensure a cohesive approach to departmental equity and diversity planning. This Plan provides an overarching vision as well as underpinning principles, goals and strategies that will ensure that DES has a consistent approach to progressing outcomes for people from the EEO target groups such as:

Women;

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders;

People from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds; and

People with a Disability.

Contacts

Indigenous Coordination Unit

The DES Indigenous Coordination Unit has been established with the purpose of achieving efficiencies and enabling whole of Department resources to target improvements in multi-service delivery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities at the State and regional level.

Contact Details:

Indigenous Coordination Unit

Phone:

07 4039 8768

Fax:

07 4031 5089

Indigenous Employment Unit

The Indigenous Employment Unit was established to progress a range of substantial and meaningful employment, recruitment and professional development initiatives for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders. The Unit’s aims are to ensure:

Specialised training and development opportunities are available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees.

DES is a welcoming and inclusive workplace for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees.

The DES is strongly committed to increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people employed in this portfolio and to promoting a welcoming and inclusive work environment as reflected in the Strategic Plan for Indigenous Australians 2002-2005.

Contact Details:

Indigenous Employment Unit

Phone:

07 3635 3730

Fax:

07 3109 7258

Community Engagement Unit

The DES Community Engagement Unit (CEU) plays a vital role in coordinating Indigenous Australian service delivery strategies, and maximising the impact of community initiatives across the department.